Digitisation Studio

Filled with specialist equipment, our studio allows us to digitise our own archive and museum collections. We can help with yours too!

Our digitisation studio is fitted out with equipment to produce high-quality digital images of archive files and volumes, books, posters, maps, paintings, photographs and 3D objects.

A scan of a poster advertising greetings telegrams — 'For all happy occasions send Greetings Telegrams', 1950 (POST 109/408)

Pewter teapot from the SS Gairsoppa (E15928/67)

A close-up of a map of Newcastle Upon Tyne, from 1837 — Close up on a plan of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1837 (POST 21/349)

An oil painting of a cloudy landscape — Oil on canvas: Paul Nash, Untitled ('Cloudscape') Verso, 1939 (POST 109/170B)

A sheet of Penny Black stamps being digitised — Sheet of Penny Black stamps

A close up of a coaching inn token. Showing a figure on a horse, with the words 'Holborn' and 'London' — Coaching Inn Token, 1790-1797 (2009-0500/1)

A black and white photograph showing crew unloading mail from a ship — Photograph: Unloading mail from CPR liner, 1938 (POST 118/848)

A black and red 18th century mail coach against a white background — Royal Mail Coach from 1783 (2006-0246)

Our work

We work closely with our Collections team to ensure digitisation is an integral part of our collections management process, fitting in with our conservation and access programmes.

Our photographers have considerable experience of digitising many kinds of objects, with particular experience of handling fragile and unique material. We also have experience of teaching photography, which we use to pass on skills and knowledge to apprentices, volunteers and other organisations.

We like to stay up to date with new technology. For recent projects we’ve been using a technique known as photogrammetry to create 3D models of objects in our collections. This involves taking photographs of an object from many angles and feeding them into a computer program, which runs through them all to compute each part of the object and create a 3D model.

Using our museum collection as subjects, we have now built up a portfolio of 3D models which can be viewed by the public on our Sketchfab site.

Bottle of GPO Obliterating Fluid by The Postal Museum on Sketchfab

Contact us

Digitisation doesn’t just end with our collections. Our digitisation services can work for you too.

From friendly, professional advice and consultation services, to undertaking digitisation projects small and large, we can help you find the best solution for your needs.

With our professional conservation and digitisation staff, and a high-quality environment to match, we can give your collections the same level of care that we give our own. Why not get in touch?

To discuss a digitisation project with us, email [email protected].